Automatic automobile cigarette lighter with case



Aug. 4, 1964 A. GIULIANI 3,143,245

AUTOMATIC AUTOMOBILE CIGARETTE.' LIGHTER WITH CASE Filed June 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l F /G.3 INVENTOR.

A. GIULIANI Aug. 4, 1964 AUTOMATIC AUTOMOBILE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WITH CASE Filed June 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5 F F. 7 i E .l am

United States Patent O AUTQMAHC AUTMBEE CIGARE FLL LEGHTER WlTH CASE Adame Giuliani, 237 Langhton Ave., Toronto,

Gntario, Canada Fiied une 14, 1961, Ser. No. 117,241 Claims priori application Canada Mar. 28, 1961 4 Claims.. (C1. 2221-147) This invention is a combined automatic cigarette lighter and cigarette case which can be installed in automobiles. t is known that none of the automobiles at present on the market are equipped with a cigarette case and lighter combined, therefore, the driver is forced to use a cigarette package, which he carries with him, and lights the cigarette with the conventional lighter installed in his automobile. The distraction of searching for his cigarette and then lighting it has without doubt caused numerous accidents. I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by the installation, on the dashboard of an automobile, of the combined lighter and cigarette case, the same being in a position to provide a lighted cigarette with the least amount of effort and distraction.

In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional top plan View of the right half of a lighter embodying the present invention, taken on the line 1 1 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a sectional top plan view of the left half of the embodiment taken on the line lI-ll of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the right half of the lighter illustrated in FG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the left half of the lighter illustrated in FIG. 2, the internal mechanisms being shown in dotted detail.

FIG. 5 is a sectional end elevation of the right half of the invention, taken on the line V-V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional end elevation of the left half of the invention, taken on the line VI-Vl of FIG. 4.

Referring to FiGS. l, 3 and 5 the principal body A of the cigarette lighter and case illustrated, constituting the right half of the invention, includes a vertically elongate rectangular case D adapted to hold a plurality of cigarettes horizontally, one on top of the other, in readiness to enter successively the lower half of body A in which the selection and lighting mechanism is housed.

A lid B is assembled to the open upper end of case D, and may be completely removed therefrom in order to place cigarettes in case D. A vertical window G is formed in one side of case D, preferably of transparent plastic material, and is adapted to enable the user to ascertain the number of cigarettes within case D.

The lowermost cigarette rests in the spaced apart jaws of a tong-like vice 3, the separate vertical arms of which are permanently attached at their lower edges to a horizontal rod 2.

Rod 2 is slidably supported in a pair of bushings attached to the lower portion of body A and is moved axially by digital pressure or the like applied to an external push button 1 located at the rearmost end thereof. A compression return spring assembled around the forward end of shaft 2 extends between the foremost bushing and the forward edges of the jaws of Vice 3 to bias the vice 3 and rod 2 rearwardly.

1t should be noted that in the rearmost location as illustrated, the cup-section upper ends of the jaws of vice 3 are of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of a cigarette, so that the lowermost cigarette in case D may fall freely under gravity into said jaws.

A horizontal latch mechanism 4, comprising a fixed jaw having a moving jaw pivotally attached thereto at a substantially mid position, is adapted to slidably receive the vertical arms of vice 3 between said jaws.

3,143,245 Patented Aug. 4., 1964 A compression spring, acting on one side of a button 14 situated at the forward end of the moving jaw of mechanism 4 and extending between button 14 and the side wall of the lower portion of body A, serves to bias the moving jaw into a closed position with the fixed jaw and exert a light pressure on the vertical arm of vice 3.

The inner edges of the jaws of mechanism 4 are contoured to cause a greater pressure to be exerted on said vertical arms upon the latter being moved forwardly, this greater pressure causing the upper jaws of vice 3 to gently but firmly grip the sides of the cigarette and move it in unison with the vice 3.

A ratchet-like detent formed on the inner edge of the moving jaw of mechanism 4 is adapted to permit the contiguous arm of vice 3 to pass forwardly thereover and, upon said arm reaching its most forward position, the detent registers with the rear edge thereof to hold it fully forward until released by the opening of the jaws of mechanism 4; this latter action normally being achieved by pressure on button 14 to overcome the spring-loading thereon.

A lighter 5, comprisinf7 a helicoidal resistance contained within a circular case, is held forwardly of and in axial alignment with the cigarette held in vice 3. The said case is held in position by a flexible stem which also acts as the electrical connection between an electrical cable F and, through the case, to the outer end of the helicoidal resistance. The inner end of the helicoidal resistance is connected to a forwardly extending bar, the front end of which terminates in a contact point 6. The bar is, of course, fully insulated from the case.

A ixed contact 10 at the forward end of case A is in spaced apart, axial alignment with contact point 6 and directly connected with an electrical cable E, companion to cable F, through its support arm. A double contact point assembly 8 and 9 is interposed betweenpoints 6 and 1t), also in spaced apart axial alignment, by means of a flexible arm 12 of electrically conductive material. Upon all contacts 6, 8, 9 and 10 being brought together, the electrical circuit from cables E and F is completed through the helicoidal resistance which thereafter reaches a su'icient temperature to readily ignite a cigarette end upon the latter being brought into contact, or close proximity therewith.

The principal object of utilizing double contact 8 and 9 is to provide a means whereby a fixed prong attached to the opposite end of their support arm 12 may be connected with the electrical circuit simultaneously with the completion of the circuit through the helicoidal resistance. A similar fixed prong extends outwardly from the base of the flexible stem supporting the case portion of lighter 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, these two fixed prongs permit an electrical resistance in the form of a heating element 11 to be connected in parallel with lighter 5 and to be activated simultaneously therewith. Element 11 is housing in the mating housing portion C to the lower portion of principal body A, and is in close proximity to a dilating strip 13.

Strip 13 is located adjacent button 14 of mechanism 4 and is adapted to press button 14 upon becoming dilated, thereby opening the moving jaw of mechanism 4 and freeing vice 3.

Referring to FIG. 3 specically, a push rod 7 is axially slidable within the lower portion of body A, its forward end being connected by yoke means to lighter 5 and its rearmost end passing slidably through an arm extending from vice 3. A coil spring extends between said arm and a pin passing through rod 7. The object of rod 7 is to close contacts 6, 8, 9 and 11i while vice 3 is moving forwardly, carrying the forward end of its cigarette into contact with lighter 5 and in this manner, vice 3 is able to travel a relatively great distance compared with the distance which lighter 5 must travel in order to complete all the contacts. Rod 7 also causes said contacts to be held together by spring pressure, providing a more positive contact and protecting the end of the cigarette from possible crushing.

In operation, case D is lled with cigarettes, the lower one of which is automatically housed in vice 3. Electrical cables E and F are, of course, connected to a suitable source of supply.

Upon pushing button 1, vice 3 moves forward, carrying its cigarette with it, and at the same time, rod 7 causes all the contact points to connect. Thus, by the time the tip of the cigarette reaches the helicoidal resistance of lighter 5, the resistance is already becoming hot.

Latch mechanism 4 ensures that vice 3 is detained in its forward position while the cigarette tip is being ignited by lighter 5. Simultaneously, heating element 11 becomes hot and, after a suitable delay, strip 13 dilates sufciently to release vice 3 from latch 4. This delay is sufficient to permit the cigarette to become lit, so that, upon the releasing action taking place, vice 3, under the influence of spring 15, snaps back to its rearmost position, carrying the lighted cigarette with it-the latter may thereafter be withdrawn from body A in a ready to smoke condition. Flexible support arm 12 and the exible support stem for lighter 5 ensures that contact between points 6, 8, 9 and 10 is broken upon release of vice 3, thereby automatically rendering the unit sate.

Finally, upon removal of the lighted cigarette, the lowermost cigarette remaining in case D drops into the jaws of vice 3 and the unit is again ready for operation.

The embodiments of this invention in which an'exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An automatic automobile cigarette lighter with case including a principal body having intercommunicated upper and lower parts; said upper part constituting a case for the horizontal retention of cigarettes and said lower part housing means for the selection and lighting of the lower-most ofV said cigarettes; said selection and lighting means comprising a horizontal rod having one end protruding rearwardly from said lower part, bushing means slidably supporting said rod, a push button attached to rear end of said rod extendably of said lower part; pressure on said button moving said rod axially forwardly; resilient means biasing said rod rearwardly; a cigarette holding vice including a pair of vertical, spaced apart arms having lower edges attached to said rod and upper edges deformed outwardly to form cup-section jaws; said jaws freely receiving the lowermost of said cigarettes from said case upon said rod being in its rearmost position; horizontal latch means having a pair of jaws resiliently biased together; said jaws having inner edges flanking and slidably cooperating with said vertical arms of said vice and squeezing said arms together upon said rod being pushed forwardly, causing said cupped jaws to gently grip said lowermost cigarette and carry it forwardly simultaneously therewith; deteut means in one of said edges of said latch jaws to releasably retain said vice in a foremost position; electric lighter means located within said lower part of said principal body forwardly of said vice and in axial alignment with said lowermost cigarette; the forward tip of said cigarette becoming juxtaposed said lighter upon said vice being in said foremost position; an electrical circuit including said lighter; normally open electrical switch means included in said circuit in series with said lighter; interconnecting means between said vice and said switch causing said switch to close upon said Vice moving forwardly; a heating element connected in said circuit in parallel with said lighter and in series with said switch; a heat sensitive dilatable strip located adjacent said heating element and cooperable with said latch means, dilation of said strip under the influence of said heating element opening said jaws of said latch and releasing said vice from said detent; said resilient means returning said vice and said horizontal rod thereafter to their rearmost positions breaking said switch; said cupped jaws freely supporting said lowermost cigarette; said lowermost cigarette having its forward tip lit and said principal body being apertured to permit removal of said lit cigarette from said vice.

2. An automatic automobile cigarette lighter and case as dened in claim 1 in which said switch means includes a fixed contact, a moving contact on said lighter, a dexible stem supporting said lighter; said flexible stem being of electrically conductive material and forming part of said circuit; a double sided contact point assembly interposed between said iixed and moving contacts; a flexible arm supporting said double sided contact point assembly; said flexible arm being of electrically conductive material and providing part of said parallel circuit for said heating element; all of said contacts being normally spaced apart; and said interconnecting means between said vice and said switch moving said contacts together to complete said circuit.

3. An automatic automobile cigarette lighter and case as defined in claim 2 in which said interconnecting means between said vice and said switch includes a push rod having a forward end and a rearward end; yoke means attaching said forward end to said lighter; compressible spring means connecting said rear end to said vice; forward movement of said vice being transmitted through said spring, push rod and yoke to move said moving contact onto one side of said double sided contact point assembly and thereafter the opposite side of said double sided contact point assembly onto said fixed contact, holding all of said contacts in their relative positions under pressure of said spring upon said vice remaining in its forward position.

4. An automatic automobile cigarette lighter and case as defined in claim 1 in which said case is formed of dielectric material.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,674,987 Pengilly June 26, 1928 1,912,779 Landrum June 6, 1933 1,917,026 Girtanner July 4, 1933 2,779,501 Alfrey Jan. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 573,226 Italy Feb. 20, 1958 1,084,067 Germany June 23, 1960 

1. AN AUTOMATIC AUTOMOBILE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WITH CASE INCLUDING A PRINCIPAL BODY HAVING INTERCOMMUNICATED UPPER AND LOWER PARTS; SAID UPPER PART CONSTITUTING A CASE FOR THE HORIZONTAL RETENTION OF CIGARETTES AND SAID LOWER PART HOUSING MEANS FOR THE SELECTION AND LIGHTING OF THE LOWER-MOST OF SAID CIGARETTES; SAID SELECTION AND LIGHTING MEANS COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL ROD HAVING ONE END PROTRUDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID LOWER PART, BUSHING MEANS SLIDABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROD, A PUSH BUTTON ATTACHED TO REAR END OF SAID ROD EXTENDABLY OF SAID LOWER PART; PRESSURE ON SAID BUTTON MOVING SAID ROD AXIALLY FORWARDLY; RESILIENT MEANS BIASING SAID ROD REARWARDLY; A CIGARETTE HOLDING VICE INCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICAL, SPACED APART ARMS HAVING LOWER EDGES ATTACHED TO SAID ROD AND UPPER EDGES DEFORMED OUTWARDLY TO FORM CUP-SECTION JAWS; SAID JAWS FREELY RECEIVING THE LOWERMOST OF SAID CIGARETTES FROM SAID CASE UPON SAID ROD BEING IN ITS REARMOST POSITION; HORIZONTAL LATCH MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF JAWS RESILIENTLY BIASED TOGETHER; SAID JAWS HAVING INNER EDGES FLANKING AND SLIDABLY COOPERATING WITH SAID VERTICAL ARMS OF SAID VICE AND SQUEEZING SAID ARMS TOGETHER UPON SAID ROD BEING PUSHED FORWARDLY, CAUSING SAID CUPPED JAWS TO GENTLY GRIP SAID LOWERMOST CIGARETTE AND CARRY IT FORWARDLY SIMULTANEOUSLY THEREWITH; DETENT MEANS IN ONE OF SAID EDGES OF SAID LATCH JAWS TO RELEASABLY RETAIN SAID VICE IN A FOREMOST POSITION; ELECTRIC LIGHTER MEANS LOCATED WITHIN SAID LOWER PART OF SAID PRINCIPAL BODY FORWARDLY OF SAID VICE AND IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID LOWERMOST CIGARETTE; THE FORWARD TIP OF SAID CIGARETTE BECOMING JUXTAPOSED SAID LIGHTER UPON SAID VICE BEING IN SAID FOREMOST POSITION; AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID LIGHTER; NORMALLY OPEN ELECTRICAL SWITCH MEANS INCLUDED IN SAID CIRCUIT IN SERIES WITH SAID LIGHTER; INTERCONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN SAID VICE AND SAID SWITCH CAUSING SAID SWITCH TO CLOSE UPON SAID VICE MOVING FORWARDLY; A HEATING ELEMENT CONNECTED IN SAID CIRCUIT IN PARALLEL WITH SAID LIGHTER AND IN SERIES WITH SAID SWITCH; A HEAT SENSITIVE DILATABLE STRIP LOCATED ADJACENT SAID HEATING ELEMENT AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID LATCH MEANS, DILATION OF SAID STRIP UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SAID HEATING ELEMENT OPENING SAID JAWS OF SAID LATCH AND RELEASING SAID VICE FROM SAID DETENT; SAID RESILIENT MEANS RETURNING SAID VICE AND SAID HORIZONTAL ROD THEREAFTER TO THEIR REARMOST POSITIONS BREAKING SAID SWITCH; SAID CUPPED JAWS FREELY SUPPORTING SAID LOWERMOST CIGARETTE; SAID LOWERMOST CIGARETTE HAVING ITS FORWARD TIP LIT AND SAID PRINCIPAL BODY BEING APERTURED TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF SAID LIT CIGARETTE FROM SAID VICE. 